Our View: Midlanders should persist with mentality of water conservation

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 6:13 am, Monday, April 20, 2015

Photo: Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram

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The pond at Wadley Barron Park is dry in this file photo

The pond at Wadley Barron Park is dry in this file photo

Photo: Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram

Our View: Midlanders should persist with mentality of water conservation

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Bravo, Midlanders. This community’s usage of water has dropped dramatically since 2011.

As Brandon Mulder reported, city residents used an average of 172 gallons per capita daily (GPCD) in 2011, making Midlanders some of the highest users of water during that period in Texas, according to estimated data from the city. By 2012, residential water usage fell to 108 GPCD. By 2014, the number settled to about 104 GPCD.

We are proud that Midlanders took the message of conservation seriously. Even if it took one of the worst droughts, altered watering schedules, hundreds of water wells drilled and increased rates to make it happen, we will take it.

Changing behavior is a major accomplishment, and in Midland, even more so. Again, this community had little experience with water conservation efforts. There really hadn’t been a need for them. But things changed, beginning in 2011. The lack of rain over the next three years left leaders thinking about the long term. Usage was this community’s problem and council leaders made the correct step in putting together sensible watering schedules. In our view, the restrictions could have been even more stringent. It remains to be seen whether the city wasted an opportunity to make more of an impact.

While the community can boast a dramatic improvement in gallons per capita daily (GPCD), there is room for improvement. Compared to Midland’s 104 total, Abilene came in at 94, Lubbock, 79; San Antonio, 75; (in 2013), Austin, 70 (in 2013) and Wichita Falls, 52.

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We would like to see Midland do better. Sure, former Mayor Wes Perry led a city council to make the T-Bar Ranch water pipeline a reality, but that doesn’t mean this community shouldn’t be good stewards with its water supply.

We can’t imagine a day when water usage per capita returns to 2011 levels. It’s in this community’s best interest to make sure that never happens again. At some point, when wells go dry and this area’s urbanization continues, the water supply could again be tested. So what’s better for Midland? Being reactive or proactive? History tells us it’s the latter. Midland should continue this conservation mentality.